Multi-way rotary disc valve



Jan. 22, 1963 s. H. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,074,431

MULTI-WAY ROTARY DISC VALVE Filed NOV. 7, 1958 3 SheetsSheet 1 "5221271 5 Samue/ H. Sdamsrfz James I1 Land Wa/fer H. IVorYa/r @rM-Zil Jan. 22, 1963 s. H. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,074,431

MULTI-WAY ROTARY DISC VALVE Filed Nov. 7, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jmes 40/70 Wa/fer H. A/owalr Jan. 22, 1963 s. H. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,074,431

MULTI-WAY ROTARY DISC VALVE Filed Nov. 7, 1958 3 ets- 3 Lzazzfars Samuel H. .Schwar-fz James K. Land Waher H- N a/ llnited dtates Patent Oflice idl lgidl 3,074,431 l t/llJiJTLl VAY ROTARY DISC VALVE ilnnruel H. Schwartz, Decrfield, James K. Land, Northtieid, and Walter H. llowak, Park Ridge, Ill assignors to The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, 111., a

corporation of liiincis Filed Nov. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 772,545 2 Claims. (Cl. 137625.11)

This invention relates to improvements in timers and more particularly relates to an improved form of pneumatic timer adapted to carry out the cyclic washing, rinsing and extracting operation or" an automatic washing machine and the like.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pneumatic timer for controlling the carrying out of a series of fluid pressure operations and so constructed as to require a minimum amount of space to carry out a multiplicity of fluid pressure operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic timer utilizing a single rotatable disk valve to distribute fluid under pressure to sequentially carry out a series of operations in which a novel form of balancing means is provided to balance fluid pressure on the valve.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined pneumatic and electric timer in which a disk valve distributes fluid under pressure to efiect the carryout of a series of fluid pressure operated operations, and in which rotary movement of the valve also operates a series of switches in a timed sequence to effect the carrying out of a series of electrical operations in cooperation with the fluid pressure operated operations.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simplified and improved form of combined electrical and pneumatic timer for controlling the carrying out of the cyclic washing, rinsing and extracting operations or an automatic washing machine, in which a single timer motor operated disk valve sequentially distributes fluid under pressure to erlect the carrying out of certain of the washing operations and in which a series of switches sequentially operated by the means for driving the timer valve effects the carrying out of certain of the electrical control operations of the machine.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of a pneumatic timer constructed in accordance with the invention with certain parts broken away and with the timer valve body and valve shown in vertical section;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the valve shown in FIGURE 1 illustrating the inlet and the multiplicity of outlets from the valve as well as the switch means operated by the timer motor;

FIGURE 3 is a plan View of the rotary timer valve element;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view or" the distributor plate looking at the plate from the bottom thereof and illustrating the channelled inlet and outlet passageways cooperating with the disk valve to distribute fluid under pressure through the outlets from the valve in a preselected sequence; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view or" the diverter plate, conducting fluid under pressure to and from the timer valve.

in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, we have shown in FlGURES l and 2, a timer 1' of a type particularly adapted for pneumatic operation and control systems for washing machines and the like, for controlling the carrying out the cyclic washing, rinsing and extracting operations of the machine.

The timer It) includes a valve block 11 having a distributor plate 12 extending across and closing the upper end thereof. A support plate 15 for a series of switches 36 is shown as being secured to and sealed to the lower end portion of the valve block 11, while a bottom cover plate 17 having an inlet 19 leading thereinto is shown as being secured to the bottom of the support plate 15.

The valve block 11 has a central annular portion Zll spaced inwardly of the outer margins thereof and forming an open ended valve chamber having a timer valve 21 rotatably mounted therein. The timer valve 21 is shown as being a rotatable disk; type valve, and has a ribbed or channelled valve face 22 having sealing engagement with a stationary diverter plate 23 seated on a shoulder 24 in the valve chamber and retained from rotation by lugs 25 and 26, so arranged that the diverter plate 23 is always in proper relation with respect to the face 22 of the valve 21, to supply fluid under pressure thereto and to direct fluid under pressure therefrom.

The valve 2?. is shown as being mounted on and rotatably driven from a drive plate 27. The valve 21 and drive plate 2'7 are concentric with and driven from a timer shaft 29 rotatably driving a drive member beneath the drive plate 27 and having drive lugs 31 projecting upwardly therefrom having engagement with a slot 32 extending across and opening to the bottom of the plate 27. The drive plate 27 extends outwardly of the valve chamber 2%"; and has an annular portion 33 extending radially beyond the annular portion or valve chamber 2%, having a plurality of cams 35 on the undersurface thereof for sequentially operating a series of switches 36 mounted on the support plate 15. The switches 36 may be well known forms or" limit or microswitches connected in a control circuit to control certain electrical operations, as need not be shown or described in detail herein.

The bottom closure plate 17 has a generally annular flanged portion if; extending about the upper side thereof and engaging a diaphragm 41 extending about the lower end portion of the support plate 15 and across an open central portion 43 thereof. Machine screws 44 are provided to secure the bottom plate 17 to the support plate 15. The machine screws 44 also serve to secure the support plate 15 to the valve block 11 and to seal the bottom plate 17 to the support plate 15 about the annular flanged portion 4% thereof. A seal 45 having an aper ture 46 leading therethrough is provided to seal the support plate 15 to the valve block 11 and to afiord communication between an inlet passageway 47 in the support plate 15 and an inlet passageway 49 extending vertically along the valve block 11. An aperture 51 leading through the diaphragm 41 is provided to altord communication between the chamber formed by the upper surface of the bottom cover plate 17 and the undersurface of the diaphragm 41 and the inlet passageways 47 and 49, to accommodate air under pressure entering the inlet 19 to pass upwardly along said inlet passageways.

A spring 53 seated in a pressure chamber 54 formed between the top face of the bottom cover plate 17 and the undersurface of the diaphragm 41, serves to bias the diaphragm 41 in upwardly extended relation with respect to said pressure chamber. The timer shaft 29 abuts 2. diaphragm plate 55 at its lower end, suitably mounted on the upper side of the diaphragm 41, and is rotatably movable with respect to said diaphragm plate. The diaphragm plate 55 engaging the lower end of the timer shaft 29 affords a means for biasing the valve face 22 into ongagement with the diverter plate 23 by the force of the spring 53, through the drive member 30 and drive plate 27.

The spring 53 is a relatively light spring to reduce friction between the valve 21 and diverter plate 23. Sealing pressure is attained by fluid under pressure entering the Patented den. 22, 1 .963

inlet 19 and acting on the underside of the diaphragm 41. The efiective pressure area on the underside of the diaphragm is so proportioned with respect to the effective pressure area on the valve face that pressure on the diaphragtn increases in proportion to increase in inlet pressure and pressure on the face of valve 21 to maintain the seal between the valve and diverter plate over a wide range of pressure variations, with a minimum of friction between the face of said valve and said diverter plate.

The distributor plate 12 forms a cover plate for the top of the valve body -11 and has a peripheral flange 56 engaging the top of the valve block 11 and sealed thereto 'by a seal 57 within the peripheral flange 56 and extending across the bottom of a distributing face 59 of the distributor plate 12. The seal 57 may be made from rubber or a like material and extends across the distributor face 59 of the distributor plate 12 and across the diverter plate 23. The seal 57 has an inlet passageway 60 leading therethrough in communication with the inlet passageway 49 in the valve block 11 and communicating with a ribbed or channelled passageway 61 formed in the distributor face of the distributor plate 12 and opening to the seal 57 and sealed thereby.

The ribbed or channelled inlet passageway 61 in the distributor plate 12 distributes fluid under pressure, such as air, through axial passageways 62, 63, 64, 65 66 and 67 leading through the diverter plate 23. Communicating passageways between the channelled passageway 61 and the passageways 62 to 67 inclusive through the diverter plate 23 are provided through the seal 57 a passageway 69 leading through said seal and registering with the passageway 63, being the only passageway shown herein.

The axial passage 63 through the diverter plate 23 affords communication with a circular channelled passageway 70 formed on the face of the valve 21, and having a plurality of spaced recessed portions 71 extending radially outwardly from the main portion of the channel 70 and of different lengths to afford communication with an axial passageway 73 leading through the diverter plate 23 and communicating with a channelled passageway 74 in the distributor plate 12. The channelled passage 74 in turn affords communication with an outlet fitting 75 leading downwardly from the bottom of a flanged portion 76 of the valve block 11. Fluid under pressure is thus supplied to the outlet 75 each time the recessed or notched portions 71 register with the axial passageway 73 leading through the diverter plate 23.

' As the valve 21 is rotated to bring the notched portion 71 of the channelled passageway 70 out of registry with the axial passageway 73 leading through the diverter plate fluid under pressure will be released from the outlet 75 through channelled vent passageways 76 and 77 formed on the face of the valve 21. A series of arcuate radially and circumferentially spaced vent channelled passageways 78 are provided on the face of the valve 21, for venting certain outlets from the valve to atmosphere, when it is desired that the devices connected thereto be inoperative or operate on their return strokes.

The channelled passageway 70 also has inwardly recessed or notched portions 79 of different lengths afifording communication with an axial passageway 80 leading through the diverter plate 23 and communicating with a channelled passageway 81 formed on the bottom face of tha -distributor plate 12. The channelled passageway 81 affords communication with an outlet passageway 82leading downwardly from the annular portion 76 of the valve block '11. The outlet passageway 82'is vented to atmosphere through channelled passageways 84, 84a'and 84b in the valve face 22-as the valve disk 21 is rotated.

'In a likem'anner, fluid under pressure is supplied to a channelledpassageway 85 on the face of the valve disk 21, spaced radially inwardly of the passageway 70, through ."axi'al passageway 67 in the diverter plate 23, and registlering with'the channelled passageway 61 in the distributor platen;

Fluid under pressure is also supplied to a concentric channelled passage 86 through the axial passage 65 in the diverter plate 23 and having communication with the channelled passageway 61. channelled passages 87 and 88 on the face of the valve 21 are supplied with fluid under pressure through the axial passageway 64 leading through the diverter plate 23 and having communication with the channelled passageway 61 in the distributor plate 12 through the seal 57. The concentric channelled passageways 89 and 90 are supplied with fluid under pressure through axial passageways 63 and 66 respectively, leading through the diverter plate 23 and having communication with the channelled passageway 61 through the seal 57.

The concentric passageway 85 affords a source of fluid under pressure to axial passageways 91 and 92 leading through the diverter plate 23 and communicating through the seal 57 with a channelled passageway 93, formed on the undersurface of the distributor plate 12. The channelled passageway 93 affords communication with outlet passageways 95 and 96 leading from the flanged portion 76 of the body 11.

The concentric passageways 86, 87, 88 and 89 afford a source of fluid under pressure to axial passageways 99, 100, 101, 102 and 103 respectively, leading through the diverter plate 23.

The axial passageways 99and communicate with a distributor passageway 105 in the bottom of the distributor plate 12, through the seal 57. The distributor passageway 105 affords communication with outlet passageways 106 and 107 leading downwardly from the flanged portion 76 of the valve body 11.

The axial passageway 101 communicates with a channelled passageway 109 in the bottom of the distributor.

plate 12 and providing fluid communication with an outlet passageway 110 leading downwardly from the flanged portion 76 of the valve body 11.

The axial passageways 102 and 103 communicate with channelled passageways 111 and 112, respectively, in the bottom of the distributor plate 12 and affording communication with outlets 113 and 114, respectively, leading from the flanged portion 76 of the valve body 11.

It may be seen from the foregoing that upon rotation of the disk valve 21 fluid under pressure will be supplied to certain of the outlets from the timer in a predetermined sequence depending upon the cycle of rotation of the valve, to sequentially operate fluid pressure motors and the like (not shown) and to eifect'the sequential operation of a device to be operated, such as an automatic washing machine, and that the cycle of operation may readily be varied by varying the forms of channels on the face of the valve disk 21 to efiect a multiplicity of sequential operations by operation of a single valve disk. 7

The timer shaft 29 may be driven from a timer motor 115 of a type commonly used for driving timer cams, and herein shown as having a casing 116 formed as a part of the motor casing and'forming a housing for a speed reducer (not shown), driving a pinion 117 from the motor 115 in a manner common with timer drives of the class described, so not herein shown or described further. The

'pinion 117 meshes with and drives the gear 119 mounted on a hub 120, which may be freely mounted on the timer shaft 29. A one-Way drive connection (not shown) may be provided between the hub 120 and the timer shaft 29 to effect the drive to said shaft and to the valve disk 21.

A dial knob 121 on a shaft 122 is provided to manually rotate the timer shaft 29, to position the valve disk 21 circuits when closed by operation of the cams 35 rotating with the valve disk 21.

The switch 125 may be of any well known form and is shown as being mounted on a support plate 126 for the timer motor 115 and gear casing 116.

It should here be understood that when the timer is used to control the sequential operations of a Washing machine or the like, that the energizing circuit to the switch 125 may be controlled through a suitable Water level control (not shown), completing a circuit to the switch 125 when the level of Water in the washing machine tub (not shown) is at the required level for Washing, and preventing operation of the timer motor 115 before the tub has been filled to a selected level.

It may be seen from the foregoing that a simplified form of pneumatic timer has been provided in which a single disk valve sequentially connects the outlets from the timer to a source of fluid under pressure, to effect the operation of pressure motors (not shown) operated thereby, and to vent the outlets to atmosphere, to render the motors inoperative, or to effect the return strokes thereof.

it may further be seen that the diaphragm 41 exerts an increasing pressure on the timer valve 21 upon increases in pressure on the face of the valve and thereby, supplies the pressure to seal the valve with the stationary diverter plate 23 over a wide range of variations in pressure, and that the timer not only serves to supply fluid under pressure to a plurality of outlets leading from the valve block, but also may serve as an electric timer sequentially operating a plurality of electric switches.

It may be understood that various modifications and variations in the present invention may be elfected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof, as defined by the claims appended hereto.

We claim as our invention:

1. A distributor valve comprising a valve block having an inlet leading thereinto and having a plurality of outlets leading therefrom, said valve block having a flat distributor face having an annular portion extending therefrom and defining the margin of said distributor face and with said distributor face defining a valve chamber, said distributor face having a series of ribs extending therefrom and extending along said face to form an inlet channel in communication with said inlet, said distributor face also having other series of ribs extending therefrom forming outlet channels, each having communication with one of said outlets, a disk valve rotatably mounted within said annular portion and having a valve face spaced from and facing said distributor face, a shaft for rotatably driving said valve, a diverter plate interposed between said valve face and said distributor face and having at least one inlet passageway leading from one side to the other of said diverter plate in communication with said inlet channel, and also having a plurality of outlet passageways leading axially therethrough in communication with said outlet channels in said distributor face, said valve face having a plurality of concentric circumferential ribs extending therefrom into engagement with said diverter plate and forming a plurality of concentric arcuate channelled passageways one of which is in communication with the inlet passageway in the diverter plate, said concentric channels also including means cooperating with the outlet passageways in the diverter plate for sequentially conducting fluid from said inlet leading through said diverter plate through said outlets in said diverter plate to said outlet passageways in said distributor face for discharge from said valve chamber, a shaft rotatably mounted in said valve block for driving said valve, spring means encircling said shaft and biasing said valve toward said diverter plate, and a fluid pressure diaphragm abutting the end of said shaft and forming an inlet passageway in said valve block and maintaining said valve in sealing engagement with said diverter plate over a wide range of variations in pressure.

2. A fluid distributor valve comprising a valve block having an inlet leading thereinto and a plurality of outlets leading therefrom, a valve chamber in said valve block having a flat distributor face having ribs projecting therefrom and connected together to form an inlet channel leading along said distributor face and in communication with said inlet, said distributor face also having a plurality of ribbed outlet channels leading therealong, each having communication with one of said outlets, a resilient diverter plate mounted in said valve chamber and engaging and sealing said distributor face, said diverter plate having a plurality of inlet passageways leading axially therethrough in communication with said inlet channel and also having a plurality of outlet passageways leading therethrough and having communication with said channeled passageways in said distributor face communicating with said outlets, a rotatable valve mounted in said valve chamber and having a valve face having a plurality of concentric arcuate ribs projecting therefrom forming channeled passageways opening toward the inlet passageways in said resilient diverter plate and sealed by said diverter plate, said channeled passageways of the valve face also including means for establishing communication with different outlet passageways in the diverter plate for different angular positions of said rotatable valve, a drive plate rotatably mounted in said valve chamber and closing said valve chamber and having driving engagement with said valve and pressing said valve face into sealing engagement with said diverter plate, a shaft concentric with said drive plate for rotatably driving said drive plate and valve, a pressure chamber having communication with said inlet into said valve block and having a diaphragm extending thereacross and facing said drive plate, spring means biasing said diaphragm in outwardly extended relation with respect to said pressure chamber into engagement with said shaft and biasing said drive plate into engagement with said valve, and said pressure chamber supplying sealing pressure on said valve proportionate to the pressure of fluid acting on said valve face from said inlet and sealing said valve to said diverter plate and also sealing said diverter plate to said distributor face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 905,605 Tarn Dec. 1, 1908 1,137,401 Haymond Apr. 27, 1915 2,377,473 Walcott June 5, 1945 2,613,056 Hughes Oct. 7, 1952 2,745,434 Stevenson May 15, 1956 

1. A DISTRIBUTOR VALVE COMPRISING A VALVE BLOCK HAVING AN INLET LEADING THEREINTO AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF OUTLETS LEADING THEREFROM, SAID VALVE BLOCK HAVING A FLAT DISTRIBUTOR FACE HAVING AN ANNULAR PORTION EXTENDING THEREFROM AND DEFINING THE MARGIN OF SAID DISTRIBUTOR FACE AND WITH SAID DISTRIBUTOR FACE DEFINING A VALVE CHAMBER, SAID DISTRIBUTOR FACE HAVING A SERIES OF RIBS EXTENDING THEREFROM AND EXTENDING ALONG SAID FACE TO FORM AN INLET CHANNEL IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID INLET, SAID DISTRIBUTOR FACE ALSO HAVING OTHER SERIES OF RIBS EXTENDING THEREFROM FORMING OUTLET CHANNELS, EACH HAVING COMMUNICATION WITH ONE OF SAID OUTLETS, A DISK VALVE ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID ANNULAR PORTION AND HAVING A VALVE FACE SPACED FROM AND FACING SAID DISTRIBUTOR FACE, A SHAFT FOR ROTATABLY DRIVING SAID VALVE, A DIVERTER PLATE INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID VALVE FACE AND SAID DISTRIBUTOR FACE AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE INLET PASSAGEWAY LEADING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER OF SAID DIVERTER PLATE IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID INLET CHANNEL, AND ALSO HAVING A PLURALITY OF OUTLET PASSAGEWAYS LEADING AXIALLY THERETHROUGH IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID OUTLET CHANNELS IN SAID DISTRIBUTOR FACE, SAID VALVE FACE HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC CIRCUMFERENTIAL RIBS EXTENDING THEREFROM INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DIVERTER PLATE AND FORMING A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC ARCUATE CHANNELLED PASSAGEWAYS ONE OF WHICH IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INLET PASSAGEWAY IN THE DIVERTER PLATE, SAID CONCENTRIC CHANNELS ALSO INCLUDING MEANS COOPERATING WITH THE OUTLET PASSAGEWAYS IN THE DIVERTER PLATE FOR SEQUENTIALLY CONDUCTING FLUID FROM SAID INLET LEADING THROUGH SAID DIVERTER PLATE THROUGH SAID OUTLETS IN SAID DIVERTER PLATE TO SAID OUTLET PASSAGEWAYS IN SAID DISTRIBUTOR FACE FOR DISCHARGE FROM SAID VALVE CHAMBER, A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID VALVE BLOCK FOR DRIVING SAID VALVE, SPRING MEANS ENCIRCLING SAID SHAFT AND BIASING SAID VALVE TOWARD SAID DIVERTER PLATE, AND A FLUID PRESSURE DIAPHRAGM ABUTTING THE END OF SAID SHAFT AND FORMING AN INLET PASSAGEWAY IN SAID VALVE BLOCK AND MAINTAINING SAID VALVE IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DIVERTER PLATE OVER A WIDE RANGE OF VARIATIONS IN PRESSURE. 